Summer Time Reflections

Some would say that as a teacher, summer time comes all too slowly. But I've always felt otherwise. When you have an AMAZING year like I just did, it comes all too quickly, and then disappears as quickly as it came! But I do love to be asked what I do on my summers off. "What do you do?" you ask...let me share: I do nothing and everything at the same time. Here are just a few ideas of my lovely, lazy summer days...
I sleep in as late as a 2 year will let you,
I stay in my jammies as long as I can,
I look forward to whatever vacations my family has planned,
I clean, cook, do laundry (you know, all the chores that don't stop when the school year does),
I clean up after my 2 year old (and maybe my husband too!),
We go on field trips to new places and old,
I drive to swim lessons (more on that later!),
and I play with my friends.

For the past 23 years of my life, I used to count down the days of summer, but then I realized that it took away from enjoying the days I had left. Then something grand happened. I had my beautiful girl, Abby. Having her taught me all about how to live in the moment, right now. I try to take time out of my crazy busy day to ponder, I mean really ponder, the important things in parenting like, How do I teach her to find the joy in the little things? How do I show her all that's out there for her to grab? How will I ever give her everything? How will she really know love, the way it's supposed to be? And then, when I stop thinking so much and let it sink in that yes, I need to be 'in parenting', I realize, this is why she's here. It's simple really. Simple. God has blessed me with this amazing little girl, not to teach, but to teach me, to humble me. She's here to show me the joy in all the little things like a bug in the driveway, a bubble floating through the air, or finding the letter 'c' on a cereal box. I see in her grand determination to master such skills as pedalling a tricycle or coloring in the lines, she is showing me that I have to go out there and grab all that life has to offer because it's only me that can do it. If she doesn't see that, where is she going to learn it (well I guess in a sense she already has)? She will have everything she ever needs because God gives us all we have ever needed, will I ever forget that? And as for love, well, one day she's going to go out there (where there is, I don't know and I'm not ready to think about it) and find it, and maybe lose it, but I hope she knows where she can come to whenever she needs her heart filled up.

So this is the beginning of my life story as to be told, summer time has just opened that door ;)